Egg conveyer



Jan- 2 1951 G. F. HoDsoN x-:TAL 2,536,057

EGG CONVEYER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 11, 1945 Jan. 2, 1951 G. F. HoDsoN ETAL m 2,536,057

EGG CONVEYER Filed July l1, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmm Patentecl Jan. 2, 1951 Unirse STATES Peize..nm o;

EGG CONVEYER` George F; Hodson; Altus, Gla-lam, ariehLyman1L:`

Campbell,l Riverdale, Ill., assignorsato.iWilsomaf Company,` Inc., acorporation/of;` Delaware; Appiicatim-.iuly 11; 1945; serai No; 604.326

(Cl..198-.-l31'}i:

14-C1axns.` 1 The i present invention relates to vacuum cups, and more particularly tovacuu-m cupsadapted `to grasp. eggs in an egg breaking machine.

The invention-is usableini'anegg breaking machine. such as thatshown inthe copendng George Hodson application, SerialiNor` 534,552, led May 8; 1944, andiss1.1ed-asl.=atent` No.` 2,443,188 June 15,1948.`

An object ofthe invention is `tsr-provide `means for grasping and securely` holding eggswithout breakingthem.

Another object is to provide a vacuum cup as sembly of two cups which will hold an egg therebetween while the egg is being treated in the machine, and in which each ofthe cups will retain the shell therein after the contents are emptied; and until the vacuumfis, broken.

Further objects and advantages-Will be apparent from the following specication and the drawings in which:

Fig. 1` is a plan vieWof` part ofr the machine with which the device isf used.

Fig.` 2 is a detailedplan view' partly infsection of oneembodiment ofthe invention;

Fig. 3 is a transverse elevation partly in section, taken alongthe line H-l'l-ofiigul Fig. 4` is Van enlarged sectionalu viewthrough -the vacuum cup mechanism.

Fig. 5` isa sectional view -takenalong-the'line lilL-lof Fig. 3.

In. the embodiment of the `invention"shows/nin` the drawings, the eggs are introduced into `the machine by a dual screw feed between which the eggs are advanced between two screws l2, each of which has a variable pitch so thatthe eggs are accelerated in motion as they advance. The eggs E are aligned with their longaxes `transverse to the directionof movement and only the ends of the egg are engaged by the screw threads.

At thetop of the screw-feed the eggs are passed individually to a mechanical device, such as the saddle described in the above mentioned copending application Serial No..534,552, and in the copending application of George F; Hodson and Lyman L. Campbell, Serial No. 560,263, filed October 25, 1944, now Patent No. 2,403,980 granted July 16,` 1946, from which they are transferredto flexible suction cups-'30, oneiof which grasps each endfof the egg. These cups are carried on platforms33 pivotally mountedinpairs on vshafts 3l mounted between a-pair of chains32, onelateach end of the shaft and which are suitably mounted on the frame I3 of the machine. The platform is enlarged at one side to form a sleeve 34 which all ts loosely about the shaft 3l, and at the other 55 end-ftodforma-sleeve-35f=which-` forms a bearing surface for the Ahollow shaftfii The shaftrd carries L thevacuumA cup Silfat its inner endl-1 and the roller 31 at its outer end. In order-to `add-Ato the life and resilience of the cup, itis-desirable toincorporatea spirally `wound telescoping spring (not shown) in-thevaeuummups.:

The suctionxcup is-made offsome-` ilegible-imaterial such i rubberz- It comprises f an eggwen1 gagingf portion 38 yhaving suitably beveled-sinner walls which terminate ini-atfeather ledger A-l-perforated metal plate SBwcarred by the-perforated hollenr guide. rod l 33o-'separates the-egg engaging portion from thesuction chamberl Theil-rod 33h extendsintothe shaft 36;- Thesucti'on chamu ber -communicatesthrough- `the i liollowishait lwitlr a check` valve-lil carrieddn one arm of-ithelroller 3l, andwith avacuum relietvalvel fin the other armiofi-the rollerflt The valve 4i serves-totvent any pressure which may accumulatevinthetsuction chamber,` andj thevalve fla-maybe" set toiopen upon any given vacuum,` in order to limit thevao-J uum f which `may-"be created withinthe` i suction chamber.`

The platform `33 also carriesaston @Btw-bien bears uponthe slide area- 43101" theenext adjacent platform` and servesto limitlthe fdownw-ard#movement ofthe-cup 33) The lshaft 3 l is provided with a suitable-pin 45Lforlimiting; theinward move-i ment of the platform 33. Ai-spring'4ms-provided in` connectincwith each platforma'ndwno-rmally urgesthe platform toward the center offth'eshaft under i a suitable 1pressure which isl-not-sufncent to crush the` eggs: Normally-this pressurelwill be in theneighborhood of.x4pounds;

The platform 33 also carries a-depending shoulder portion flftofwhich is securedthe leaf spring Gla Awhich normallyurges Atheplatformin down ward direction. The-platform 331a`lsocarriesie cam roller 33%1k which functions to position the platform laterally;` as wiilfbelater described.:

Thed chains .i 32 whichcarry-the vacuum cups` 38': are, driven by wheels-mounted1fonshafts li and@` llla.- Atthe appropriate time duringthe courser of travel thel cam rollen 335] engages the cam-.surfaces T3. and as aA result isi forced bac. A: againstl the :springs i 43 until `there `is more thansufficientispacel between the `oups `to l receive'- the egg E. Then the rollers 33D engagethe" cam' surfaces 14"which arei'nclined toward each other, as shown ine Fig.V l, and# the `tension on the cam roller 330 is gradually lessened, whereby the cups are advanced inwardly until each cup contacts an end of the egg. At the same time the rollers 3'1 contact a member 55 which causes the cup assembly to rotate to securely seat the egg, which is held against rotation by any suitable means (such as shown and described in our said copending application Serial No. 534,552), in the portion 38 of the cup. Then the rollers 339 reach the end of the cam surfaces 'I4 and all pressure against the rollers is released. The springs 46 force the cups toward each other and against the eggs to drive the air out of the cups 30 and to create suiicient vacuum therein to hold the end of the egg in the cup even after the egg has been cut in half and the contents thereof permitted to drop therefrom. In practice a cam lill contacts the rollers 330 to separate the severed eggs sufficiently to permit the contents thereof to drop into a container such as cups |92 which may be mounted in the frame I3 on a chain below the chain 32.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A vacuum cup for holding eggs in an egg breaking machine comprising: a vacuum chamber of flexible material; an engaging portion connected to said chamber; a hollow pipe extending through the chamber and having an enlarged perforated end between the chamber and said portion; and a valve for said pipe.

2. A vacuum cup for holding eggs in an egg breaking machine comprising: a vacuum chamber of flexible material having a perforated wall; an egg engaging portion extending from said chamber around said wall; a hollow pipe extending through said chamber and terminating in said portion; and a vacuum limiting valve on the other end of said pipe.

3. A vacuum cup for holding eggs in an egg breaking machine comprising: a Vacuum chamber of flexible material having a perforated wall; an egg engaging portion extending from said chamber around said wall; a hollow pipe extending through said chamber and terminating in said portion; a valve on the other end of said pipe to vent pressure from said chamber; and means for limiting the vacuum which may be created in said chamber.

4. A vacuum cup assembly for holding eggs in an egg breaking machine comprising: a shaft movably mounted on the machine; a pair of platforms mounted on the shaft, each platform having a vacuum cup with oppositely facing egg engaging portions mounted thereon; an air escape means having a check valve and communicating with said cup; and means for moving said platforms toward and away from each other.

5. A vacuum cup assembly for holding eggs in an egg breaking machine comprising: a shaft movably mounted on the machine; a pair of platforms mounted on said shaft; a pair of hollow shafts each journaled in one of said platforms each of said hollow shafts being provided with pressure responsive means; a vacuum cup on the inner end of each hollow shaft; and means'for moving said platforms toward and away from each other.

6. A vacuum cup assembly for h-olding eggs in an egg breaking machine comprising: a shaft mounted on the machine; a pair of platforms pivotally mounted on said shaft; a hollow shaft rotatably mounted in each platform, said hollow shaft being provided with venting and pressure limiting valve means; a vacuum cup bearing an egg receiving portion on the inner end of each shaft, said vacuum cup being adapted to maintain a vacuum created therein.

7. A vacuum cup assembly for holding eggs in an egg breaking machine comprising: a` shaft mounted on the machine; a pair of platforms pivotally mounted on said shaft; a hollow shaft rotatably mounted in each platform; a vacuum cup bearing an egg receiving portion on the inner end of each shaft; means for moving said platforms longitudinally on said first shaft, said vacuum cup being adapted to maintain a vacuum created therein by said longitudinal movement of said platform while an egg is positioned in said egg receiving end.

8. A vacuum cup assembly for holding eggs in an egg breaking machine comprising: a shaft mounted on the machine; a pair of platforms pivotally mounted on said shaft; a hollow shaft rotatably mounted in each platform; a vacuum cup bearing an egg receiving portion on the inner end of each hollow shaft, said vacuum cup being adapted to maintain a vacuum created therein; and rotating means on the outer end of said hollow shafts adapted to rotate said cup to seat securely an egg therein.

9. rl'he device claimed in claim 8, wherein each rotating means carries a valve communicating through said shaft with the cup.

10. The device claimed in claim 8, wherein each rotating means carries means for limiting the vacuum which may be created in the cup.

1l. In an egg breaking machine a plurality of the devices claimed in claim 8 mounted on endless chains.

12. In an egg breaking machine, a frame on which a pair of endless chains are mounted; a plurality of shafts carried by said chains; a pair of vacuum cups on each shaft and having oppov sitely facing egg engaging portions; and means for moving said cups longitudinally on said shafts to engage opposite portions of an egg whereby a holding vacuum is created in said cups.

13. The device claimed in claim 8, wherein each platform is provided with a cam and the machine is provided with cam surfaces adapted to engage said cams to move said platforms longitudinally on the shafts on which they are mounted.

14. The device claimed in claim 4, wherein the means for moving the platforms comprises springs on the shaft, a cam on each platform and cam surfaces on the machine.

GEORGE F. I-IODSON. LYMAN L. CAMPBELL.

REFERENCES CITED rlihe following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,222,535 Crum Apr. 10, 1917 1,311,776 Rodriguez July 29, 1919 1,407,524 Fourchy Feb. 21, 1922 2,177,967 Watkins Oct. 31, 1939 

